Orange Calendula Seeds (Organic)

Orange Calendula (Calendula officinalis), also known as Pot Marigold, is a heat-tolerant annual with brilliant orange, daisy-like blooms 2 to 3 inches across. The edible petals add color and a nutty flavor to dishes and serve as a saffron substitute, while the flowers are also used in skin creams and salves. This packet contains approximately 100 seeds.

At a glance

• Variety: Orange Calendula / Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis)
• Type: Annual, organic
• Days to maturity: 40 to 50 days
• Germination: 7 to 14 days
• Soil temperature: 65 to 70°F
• Sun: Full to partial sun
• Planting depth: 1/4 inch
• Spacing after thinning: 10 to 12 inches
• Height at maturity: 12 to 24 inches
• Approx. seeds per pack: 100 (about 3,021 per ounce bulk)

Best for

• Edible flower and culinary gardens
• Herbal salves, lotions, and teas
• Pollinator gardens attracting bees and butterflies
• Beds, borders, and containers
• Long-blooming color from summer to frost
• Self-seeding cottage gardens

How to grow

Sow 1/4 inch deep directly in well-drained, loamy soil, or start indoors and transplant, keeping soil around 65 to 70°F. Germination takes 7 to 14 days. Grow in full to partial sun with moderate water, thinning to 10 to 12 inches apart. Plants bloom from early summer through light frosts and reseed readily. Harvest flowers once open; whole heads take at least a week to dry.

Flavor profile

Mild and nutty, with a slightly tangy, peppery edge; the golden petals lend warm color to salads, teas, and baked goods, much like saffron.

About Grow Organic

Grow Organic offers organic and heirloom seeds alongside natural garden supplies to help home gardeners grow sustainably.

Sold by Grow Organic, based in Grass Valley, California.